Introduction
This course has been a great help to me personally and professionally. I have enjoyed learning about new apps/tools that I can implement into my classes. My instructor toolbox now has more tools to use.
I believe that by making the learning interactive and bringing out the individuality of the students, we can help each other become more successful and reach our goals. Technology is a way to bring the learning to a higher level. We can provide “greater emphasis on skills, particularly knowledge management, and less on memorizing content” (Bates, 2019).
This course has provided an opportunity to try many apps/tools. At first, I was overwhelmed by the amount of digital resources we could use to enhance the learning experience. The more I looked, the more I realized that you do not need every tool. Too many can cause the learners to become confused, lose interest and create an imbalance in the learning environment. It is key to create an environment for interaction and discussion with technology “it is important to emphasise that technology is just one component within any effective learning environment, and needs to be balanced and integrated with all the other components (Bates, 2019, A.73). It is important to change the way we deliver information. With the increase in diversity and educational expectations and challenges, it is important to know the students and their learning needs. We need to put emphasis on our “teaching methods that lead to student success, more individualization of learning, and more flexible delivery are all needed to meet the challenge of an increasingly diverse student body.” (Bates, 2019, para 9). I have learned that with balance, patience, and trying new things, I can continue to expand my “instructor’s toolbox”. I need to build a learning environment, not just a learning plan.
Bates, T. (2019). Appendix 1: Building an effective learning environment: Methods of teaching with an online focus. (2nd ed.). https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/5-7-resources/
Bates, T. (2019). Changing students, changing markets for higher education 1.6: Methods of teaching with an online focus. (2nd ed.). https://opentextbc.ca/teachinginadigitalage/chapter/section-1-6-changing-students-changing-markets-for-higher-education/
Hi Sue-Ellen!
Thank-you for sharing your final thoughts with us regarding educational technology, tools, and implementation. I agree that there is so much available out there that we have to be able to narrow our scope and determine what will meet the needs of our students best. As you mentioned, “Too many [digital resouces] can cause the learners to become confused, lose interest and create an imbalance in the learning environment”.
There are already so many barriers to learning that our students may experience, becoming overwhlemed by the different selections on offer, goes against the whole premise and philosopohy that we are there to facilitate learning and increase student engagement, not prevent it. It reminds me of how I often feel overwhelmed if the menu choices at a restaurant are too large. After some time, I just end up glancing at it quickly, probably in an F -shaped pattern ha ha ha, and just pick something that looks or sounds appealing! In the end, all I may have learned from this experience is not to order that dish again.
It is important for us to remember that it is the learning, and the connnections, and the memories that we make that matter the most! Educational technology is just another cool and innovative vehicle to get us where we want to go.
Thank-you Sue-Ellen! It has been great sharing this Educational Technology journey with you!
Hi Sue,
I agree you said that too much tools can cause learners confused and lose interest. When teachers and students pay more attention to educational tools, their original attention which should be in studies will be distracted by entertainment function of the tools or the tool itself. We need to know that the most fundamental thing is learning itself, and technology is an auxiliary tool.
Hi Sue-Ellen
I can fully relate to feeling overwhelmed at the beginning of this course. I was unfamiliar with technical terminology and interfaces. Nevertheless, we made it through and I love how you ended your entry by stating the importance of creating a learning environment.
I guess we can get swept away by the number of technologies out there, and in our search for the best one, we might neglect to account for the experience of the students—which should remain the focal point in education.
I mentioned in our presentation that the lives of our students are technology-infused. And we will be doing ourselves and our students a disservice by ignoring this reality. Your quote on Bates about individualized educational experiences can be related to this by giving the students the option to choose the technology of their choice with which to engage the learning content.
Thank you again for your share.